Help... what scanner to buy?

[Albert Wiersch]

Hello all,

I'm looking for a scanner and would like some advice.

I want to scan photos and negatives. I'm considering the Canon 8000F. My
price limit is $300 or less. It looks like the 8000F can be had for <$200
now (like at B&H).

I like the fact that you can scan 12 negatives at a time with the 8000F.
What about dust, scratches, etc. Should I get a Digital Ice scanner instead?
If so, what is the best in my price range? The Canon has FARE... is this
similar to Digital Ice?

It seems that VueScan doesn't support the 8000F. Is the Canon software good
enough?

I want to stay away from HP because my experience with their current
software is very poor. Their software seems slow, unproductive, and buggy.
Also, the scanner on the OfficeJet that I have has quality problems.

Thank you!

 

[degrub]

Have a look at some of the comments on www.scantips.com on scanners.

Photos should not be a problem for most all scanners in your price
range. For negatives, you want software that does a good job of
compensating for the orange mask on the negative. Vuescan is pretty
good. Also, the scanner will depend on how large you want to print the
negative image. If you stay at about 8x10 or less (scanning at about
2400 ppi for 300 ppi to output) , many of the higher end consumer
scanners will work well enough. With the exception of two new epson and
a microtek scanner, i think all of the dust and scratch removal
capabilities are software only and can easily soften the image (ICE does
that some as well). The new epson 4870 is the first flatbed consumer
scanner to have ICE for film as well as reflective media that i have
heard of. i would use an antistatic brush (photo supply - has polonium
in it i think) on the negatives and antistatic wipes on the scanner to
minimize dust. Reasonable humidity levels will help as well to keep the
dust down.

 

[Andy Hewitt]

I want to stay away from HP because my experience with their current
software is very poor. Their software seems slow, unproductive, and buggy.
Also, the scanner on the OfficeJet that I have has quality problems.

I've just bought an Epson CX3200 all-in-one box, mainly because I wanted
a new printer, but this was at a good price. Vuescan sort of works with
it, but the EpsonScan software is actually very good (on Mac OSX it is
anyway).

However, as you need to scan films as well, I think I'd personally look
at trying to see if you could get a Minolta Dual Scan III for the
transparencies, and a cheap flat bed - there's quite a choice at the low
end.